Повернення Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Astothosepaperswithwhichyouaremakingsofree,Imaytellyouthatincasethereshouldbeanythingofanyvalueamongthem,youwillbeheldstrictlytoaccountforwhatyoudowiththem.”
“Verygood,sir,”saidSherlockHolmes.“MayIask,inthemeanwhile,whetheryouhaveyourselfanytheorytoaccountforthisyoungman’sdisappearance?”
“No,sir,Ihavenot.Heisbigenoughandoldenoughtolookafterhimself,andifheissofoolishastolosehimself,Ientirelyrefusetoaccepttheresponsibilityofhuntingforhim.”
“Iquiteunderstandyourposition,”saidHolmes,withamischievoustwinkleinhiseyes.“Perhapsyoudon’tquiteunderstandmine.GodfreyStauntonappearstohavebeenapoorman.Ifhehasbeenkidnapped,itcouldnothavebeenforanythingwhichhehimselfpossesses.Thefameofyourwealthhasgoneabroad,LordMount-James,anditisentirelypossiblethatagangofthieveshavesecuredyournephewinordertogainfromhimsomeinformationastoyourhouse,yourhabits,andyourtreasure.”
Thefaceofourunpleasantlittlevisitorturnedaswhiteashisneckcloth.
“Heavens,sir,whatanidea!Ineverthoughtofsuchvillainy!Whatinhumanroguesthereareintheworld!ButGodfreyisafinelad—astaunchlad.Nothingwouldinducehimtogivehisolduncleaway.I’llhavetheplatemovedovertothebankthisevening.Inthemeantimesparenopains,Mr.Detective!Ibegyoutoleavenostoneunturnedtobringhimsafelyback.Astomoney,well,sofarasafiverorevenatennergoesyoucanalwayslooktome.
